[Photo Credit: Victoria Fox]
Taking a festive walk around Truro’s Lemon Quay Boscawen Street Market, you can see the bright, dazzling lights on the stalls which were placed around the Market. Walking on a busy
weekend in December, you can feel the upbeat energy of shoppers. As I weaved in and out of the crowds, the smell of warm hotdogs, freshly made, or the sweet, comforting aroma of the
cinnamon chiros were in the air.
[Photo Credit, Victoria Fox]
Yet all seem ever busy and thriving despite the cold and wet.
With recent storms, Bert and Darragh, the UK has faced extreme weather conditions.
The UK Met Office Issued both yellow and amber weather warnings for 70 and 80mph, which is set to affect coastal and headland areas the most.
[UK Met Office]
But what does this mean for Truro’s Christmas Market? Have people been put off?
Speaking to Local business owner Mark from Best Wishes, who is trading this year at the Market, I found out how this year’s weather has affected his business.
“We couldn’t trade yesterday because it was too dangerous” “… the wind was coming from the North West, so it was hitting right on this side… so we took all the pictures down. The only mistake I made was the ones that were on that shelve. I lay them flat, but even with wind, it knocked one off… but that was the only breakage.”
[Mark from Best Wishes, Photo credit, Victoria Fox]
According to bbpmedia, weather-related disruption to businesses is one of the main causes of loss of revenue.
At this time small businesses depend on these key dates for selling and trade. If trade is disrupted because of weather-related issues, small businesses may have to re-think whether they can afford to trade at Christmas Markets.
Another trader was still sticking out, despite the storm.
[Photo Credit: Victoria Fox]
“We were shut yesterday, we don’t know what to expect today… fingers crossed”
Yvonne owns her own candle business and sells her husband’s homemade soaps. They regularly attend Markets throughout the year.
Power cuts were another issue with big retailers such as M&S being affected as their card machines weren’t allowing for some methods of payment such as payment. As a result, some customers walked out without their items.
Damage caused by falling trees and debris was also an issue for drivers, making travel difficult during the storm’s more active periods on the 7th of December.
Locals were advised to stay at home as storm Darragh was labelled ‘A Danger to life’ by the UK Met Office.
Organisers of Truro’s Christmas Market, Truro City Council, and Cornwall Event Cabins issued a statement on recent storm Darragh that is was with the ‘unfortunate decision to close the Christmas Market’ on December 7th due to the storm gusts being expected to reach 80mph, with that being a danger to life.
It wasn’t just Truro’s Christmas Market that had to be closed on the weekend of the 7th, but also other Christmas Markets in Cornwall, such as Falmouth’s Christmas Market was called off with concerns for the weather.
With many Christmas events and opportunities for small businesses to trade during these all-important festive times either postponed or cancelled, it asked us the question if events like these will be able to carry on in future years. If businesses continue to lose trading days to bad weather, will there be enough funding for these to continue in the future or furthermore, will businesses likely to avoid attending these events if they know they might be able to profit from them?
Other questions about whether indoor Christmas Markets may be the way to go in following years if outdoor events are too hazardous.
Video Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/8l6GZkRXvzk?si=Be62j2OdetyzcFI9